Roy Hodgson must sort the men from the boys ahead of World Cup

JACK WILSHERE was on his way out of Wembley on Wednesday night, blissfully unaware of the misfortune that was about to beset him, when he stopped to discuss his prospects of making England’s World Cup squad.

“No, I’m not definitely on the plane,” said the midfielder. “I think between now and May is the crucial time.

“You have got to stay fit. That’s the most important thing. And then see what happens.”

Given Wilshere’s past fitness problems, and the fact he has always wanted to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney with England, he should have perhaps have seen what was coming next.

The symmetry that now exists with those two luminaries follows the script more faithfully than anyone would have wished.

For the metatarsal injuries suffered by Beckham in 2002 and Rooney in 2006 now read Wilshere’s navicular bone in 2014.

Roy Hodgson’s heart would have sank as the medical bulletin came through from Arsenal less than 24-hours after he joked about having time on his hands before revealing the 23 names, and seven standby players, in May.

Rather than enjoying himself, the coming weeks will now be embodied by worry that the fractured foot threatening Wilshere’s participation in Brazil does not turn out to be the first in a glut of injuries which history shows tends to undermine the country’s hopes.

Wilshere’s career remains at a fledgling stage so that there is unlikely to be a call to prayer for the nation, or pictures of his left foot emblazoned across the front of certain media outlets.

Yet it still represents a blow for the England coach, who has spent too much of his tenure waiting for Wilshere to declare himself fit.

The 22-year-old played just 144 minutes of the World Cup qualifying campaign, starting just twice.

Midfield is the one area in which the competition for places is so spread out that Hodgson faced being confronted by something of a minefield over how he should whittle down his options.

He would not want the conundrum solved by injury and will hope that Wilshere can keep to the six-week schedule set by Arsenal and impress before the end of the campaign. He would, at least, be fresh.

Frank Lampard did not have the opportunity to feature in the Denmark game [GETTY]

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No, I’m not definitely on the plane, I think between now and May is the crucial time

Jack Wilshere

However, the player’s track record – highlighted by the ankle injury sustained for England against Switzerland in May 2011 and which ruled him for 17 months – suggests he is not a quick healer.

Inevitably, there will beneficiaries. The cameo from Adam Lallana, who replaced Wilshere in the 59th minute and then set up Daniel Sturridge’s winning goal against Denmark, had already caught the eye. His case for inclusion will be even stronger today.

Others will also see that the door is ajar.

There is an argument England should take only seven defenders to the World Cup – Glen Johnson can play both full-back roles and Chris Smalling and Phil Jones as well as being understudies at centre-half have been deployed at right-back – thus freeing up a spot for an extra attacking player.

Tournament football is about winning games and the more players capable of making a difference Hodgson has at his disposal the better.

Steven Gerrard is a certainty, youngsters Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling and Lallana are all well placed, but it is still shaping up to be some scramble for the remaining midfield berths.

Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick will be joined by James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Andros Townsend, Ross Barkley and Tom Cleverley on tenterhooks.

Lampard, like Carrick, did not feature at Wembley but Hodgson denied the Chelsea midfielder, no longer a regular at Stamford Bridge, was fading out of the picture.

“No,” said Hodgson. “He is no more vulnerable than anyone else. Frank will have to accept in the same way Carrick was left on the bench because I played Steven Gerrard the whole game.

Luke Shaw made a good start to his England career [GETTY]

“It would be a mistake to start trying to read my mind because I haven’t made up my mind.

“Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are very much in my mind.”

It is Lampard’s knack of scoring important goals – even though he has found the back of the net once in the last 12 months – which remains his biggest appeal.

Carrick’s form with Manchester United may have dipped, but he was integral to England as recently as October when playing alongside Gerrard in the pivotal win over Poland that sealed progress.

Some might regard the selection of both Lampard and Carrick as evidence of the manager picking on reputation and ignoring youth.

That would be harsh. The final 30 minutes at Wembley saw England with Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, Lallana, Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andros Townsend and Danny Welbeck featuring at one stage or another.

Sturridge is the oldest at 24, everyone else 23 or under. This is not Dad’s Army.

Hodgson’s to-do list includes whether to stick with the experience of Cole ahead of debutant Luke Shaw, while he must weigh up the merits of Rickie Lambert against Andy Carroll.